Superhuman vs Shortwave: the faster inbox
Superhuman is the pick if raw speed is the goal: it runs on Gmail or Outlook, you work almost entirely from the keyboard, and a split inbox plus reminders keep important threads in view. Shortwave is the pick if you live in Gmail and want AI to do more of the reading, since it searches your inbox, summarises long threads and drafts replies. Shortwave's Business plan costs $30 per seat a month after a 14-day trial; Superhuman Mail comes in the Business plan from $33 a month. Outlook users can only choose Superhuman.
Which one to pick
You handle hundreds of emails a day on Gmail or Outlook, want every action on a shortcut, and like a split inbox that keeps key senders apart.
Your mail runs on Gmail, you often dig through old threads for answers, and you want AI to search, summarise and draft replies for you.
Side by side
Questions
Do Superhuman and Shortwave work with Outlook?
Superhuman works on top of both Gmail and Outlook accounts. Shortwave is built for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. If your business email runs on Microsoft 365, Superhuman is the option of the two. Check your provider before you start a trial.
Are they priced per person?
Shortwave's Business plan costs $30 per seat a month, with Premier at $45 and Max at $120. Superhuman includes Mail in its Business plan, from $33 a month. Neither offers a free email plan. Both bill in US dollars, so the euro price moves with the exchange rate.
Can I try them before paying?
Shortwave offers a 14-day free trial on every plan, with no payment upfront. Use the trial on your real inbox to see whether the AI search finds what you need. Superhuman's site lists its plans with monthly and annual billing. Give either tool a full working week, since keyboard habits take a few days to form.
Is the AI in Shortwave better than in Superhuman?
Shortwave puts AI at the centre: it answers questions about your inbox and its plans differ mainly in AI usage and search history. Superhuman also drafts replies with AI and matches your tone. The difference is focus, since Superhuman built its name on speed and shortcuts. If searching old mail is your daily pain, Shortwave addresses it more directly.
Do they connect to my CRM?
Superhuman's Business plan lists integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive. That helps sales teams who log email conversations against deals. Shortwave's pricing page does not list CRM integrations. If CRM logging matters to you, test it in Superhuman first.